The Hive – week 9 edition

Welcome back to The Hive! It’s getting down to the nitty gritty, as the fantasy playoffs are approaching faster than you think. In deep IDP leagues, now is the time to make moves to acquire depth for the stretch run. Be it through trade or off the wire, you don’t want to get caught with your pants down if one of your studs gets hurt. There are some interesting wire candidates this week, and some studs coming back from injuries that might be on your wire as well. Let’s take a look at the week 9 IDP matchups!

Game notes: Calvin Pace and Kerry Rhodes are both hot for the Jets, and that should continue. Look what Joey Porter did to the Bills last week, that, combined with Pace’s current hot streak, equals a money matchup. David Harris will sit out this one, which is probably a relief to his disappointed owners. On the Bills side I would be more confident in starting McGee this week after he got in some game action last week. The way Favre has been tossing picks he could have a big game. Bryan Scott is filling in nicely for Ko Simpson, and his good play could cause a time share when Simpson returns. Schobel is still not ready to rock, so Ryan Denney starts in his place again.

Game notes: Dewayne White is one of the hottest DL’s in IDP right now. Another preseason sleeper here at The Hive that is making me look good. Keep him in your lineup. Charles Tillman should have a big game, and Corey Graham is putting up nice IDP stats as well. Nathan Vasher is close to returning, but there are whispers that he may take the nickel role, which he is honestly better suited for anyway.

Game notes: Mike Peterson is heating up, and against the 2-3 YPC machine known as Ced Benson I like Peterson to have a big week. Bowtie Jones is still a must start, and Ndukwe is as well. Brandon Johnson is a decent bye week filler if you need LB help, he should be good for 4-6 solos each week in Keith Rivers’ spot.

Game notes: Terrell Suggs is the number one DE in most formats, and should be in all IDP lineups. I like Ray Ray against his former teammate Jamal Lewis this week as well. The Ravens D has been stout, but not as chock full of IDP goodness as it has been in the past. Cleveland, however, has plenty of IDP love to share with you good people this week. Sean Jones is a must start, and I would feel good about D`Qwell Jackson this week too. Considering how poor the Ravens OL has been, Shaun Rogers might go absolutely insane. Start him if you got him.

Game notes: Gaines Adams is going to have a silly good game this week. The Chiefs offensive line is just that, offensive. Jermaine Phillips is out at least a month, which means the dawn of Sabby Piscatelli is upon us. Get ready, he is going to be flying off IDP wires in a week or two. The Chiefs are pretty much the worst NFL team I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of bad NFL teams. But you can still get some fantasy enjoyment out of them being God awful, as their DB’s and Derrick Johnson will be money this week.

Game notes: Whodathunkit? DeMeco Ryans is borderline droppable in shallow redraft IDP leagues. I wouldn’t get crazy in your dyno league and toss him to the wolves, as this is all related to his bum ankle, but he may not be his usual self for the rest of the season. Heshould have a good game against ADP, but there have been a lot of weeks this season where he was supposed to have good stats and didn’t make it happen. For the Vikings the return of the studly Antoine Winfield should be upon us, as he will match up with Andre Johnson. Tackles galore. Considering how hot Walter has been I would say Ced Griffin isn’t a bad start either. Madieu Williams is back, and should be an IDP option again shortly, but I expect a time share with Tyrell Johnson as he works his way back into game condition.

Game notes: This game should display plenty of offensive fireworks, but there are some nice IDP matchups for you to exploit as well. Adrian Wilson is healthy again, and should be back to his studly self this week. For the Rams corner Jason Craft is hot, and against the Cards passing attack he and Atogwe should be very, very busy. Chris Long is coming on strong, and could end up filling that “next Patrick Kerney” role I tagged him with before the draft sooner rather than later.

Game notes: Al Harris returns for the Pack, so those of you who have been enjoying the ride with Tramon Williams, the fun is over. Kampman is only a so-so start against a OL that has allowed only two sacks all season long. The Titans CB’s should continue to be IDP gold, and Keith Bulluck should have a good game as well.

Game notes: Joey Porter is on fire, and rookie tackle Ryan Clady has been superb in pass protection. This should be a fun matchup, but I’m playing Porter until he cools off. On the Denver side Karl Paymah will replace Champ Bailey, and could get picked on enough to become an IDP factor. Jaime Winborn comes in for the other injured Bailey brother, and could also be an IDP factor in coming weeks.

Game notes: Zach Thomas is suddenly IDP relevant again after a slow start to 2008. He should be good to go against a strong Giants running attack. Mike Jenkins will have some IDP value in CB required leagues while he is the starter. On the New York side, Justin Tuck is the #2 DE in most formats (to the previously mentioned Terrell Suggs) and should not be on the bench in any league.

Game notes: John Abraham has been quiet after a hot start, he should heat back up against a Raiders line that is great at run blocking but not so hot at pass protection. Curtis Lofton is showing flashes, and this is a good week to use your Falcons LB’s. On the Raiders side I expect another big week out of Morrison, but don’t hold him to 13 tackles again this week. The Falcons run game should mean an up week for the up and down Thomas Howard, and I expect Deangelo Hall to be fired up against his old team as well.

Game notes: This could be a blowout, which would be bad for the Eagles DB’s and good for their DB’s, but I’d still start Bradley without much hesistation. On the Seattle side Lofa Tatupu followed up his week 7 game where he left with a concussion by leaving last weeks game with a groin injury. Pat Kerney is likely out with a shoulder injury, so Lawrence Jackson goes from demoted to promoted in a 2 week span.

Game notes: For the Pats Brandon Merriweather had a nice game in his first as a starter last week, and if you are in need of DB help he is a nice addition at this point in the season. For the Colts, Bob Sanders looks to return this week, but I would wait to play him until you see him in action. Sanders could even time share to start out with Melvin Bullitt, who Dungy is claiming will still have a role even when Sanders is back.

Game notes: Harrison and Woodley were held in check last week, but you have to keep them in your lineups for MNF. Farrior should be huge against Portis as well, especially in tackle heavy leagues. Chris Horton should be back for the `Skins, and he should be busy against the Steelers offense. I would stay far, far away from Jason Taylor until he shows you something, as he is obviously still not right.

Well that about wraps it up for the week 9 coverage. Good luck in all of your IDP matchups, and I hope to see you back here next week! Thanks!

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